Apparatus for cleaning ballast



1935- J. B. M WILLIAMS ET AL. 2,025,543 APPARATUS FOR CLEANINGBALLAST v Fil d Nov. 8, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS A m W 0,. M

Dec. 24, 1935. J. B. M WILLIAMS E1 AL 2,025,543

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Nov. 8, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 afmwi JINVENTO Am i'ddhm 24, 1935- J. B. M WILLIAMS ET AL 2,025,543

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Nov. 8, 1952 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 1935- J. B. M WILLIAMS mm.. 2

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed NOV. 8, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 24, 1935.

J. B: M WILLIAMS ET AL 2,025,543

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST I Fil d Nov. 8, 1952 9 sheets-sheet 5 Dec. 24, 1935. J. B. M WILLIAMS ET AL 2,025,543

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Nov. 8, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS 1935- J. B. M WILLIAMS ET AL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Nov. 8, 1932 C: 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS Dec. 24, 1935. J, B MCWILLIAMS m- AL 2,025,543

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed NOV. 8, 1932 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Mar '. 24, 1935- J. B. MCWILLIAMS AL 9 5 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed Nov. 8, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 figtZl.

ljj l% Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE tenance Corporation, Pittsburgh, 3a., .a .corporation of Tennsylvania Application November 8, 1932, Serial 'N 0. 641,732

15 .Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of material handlingand treating, andmore particularly to a method and apparatus directed to the cleaning of ballast in the crib or space between the ties of railroad'tracks.

One of theimportant items of upkeep with respect to a main line track is that of maintaining the ballast in proper condition. Effective means and methods have been developed heretofore for the cleaning of the ballast lying outside of the roadbed proper, i. e., inside of the space lying between the ends of the ties. Up to the present time, however, no satisfactory method or apparatus has been developed for the cleaning of the ballast in the cribs or spaces between the ties.

It is well recognized by those skilled in the 'art that proper preservation of the ties is dependent upon prompt drainage of water from the spaces between'the ties. If any appreciable amount of fines-accumulates in such spaces,effective-drainage is prevented and not only are the tiessubjected to moisture to such-an extent as to result in rapid deterioration thereof, but the roadbed is softened and its'efliciency correspondingly impaired. In an eiiort to overcome this difficulty, it is customary at-the present time to remove all of the ballast, dirt and 'fine materials from the cribs by hand, separate the fines from the ballast and return the ballast to'the'cribs, the fines being suitably disposed of. 'Thisis-an extremely slow, laborious and expensive operation, as will be readily apparent.

Iii-accordance with the present inventionyit is proposed to remove the dirt "and fine materials only from the cribs or inter-tie spaces to a desired depth without bodily removing "the ballast, thus leaving the ballast in such condition "that free drainage is permitted. Such amethod and apparatus also provides proper tamping material between the ties so thataiter a 'clearnng operation it ispossible, if desired, to utilize usual tamping methods for placing additional ballast below the ties.

Another object of the present invention to provide means for cleaning such cribs or intertie spaces without disturbing the portion .of the roadbed immediately below the ties themselves.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown for purposes of illustration only, and more orless diagrammatically, certain-preferred embodiments of the present invention whereby the foregoing and other objects .may be efiectively obtained.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a top ;.plan view of aself-xcontained,

self propelled cleaning unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in'Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the cleaning 5 unit;

Figure '4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the path'of travel oi the cleaning head;

Figure '5 is a side elevational view of a preferred form-oi cleaninghead; 19

Figure 6'is a'view similar to Figure 5, illustrating the-cleaning head from the right hand side thereof as viewed in Figure 5;

Figure "7 a transverse sectional view of the head of Figures5-and 6; l5

Figure'S is 'a'v'iew similar to Figure 5 illustrating a modified f or-m of cleaning head;

Figure -9'is a 'top plan View of the head illustrated'in Figure 8';

Figure is a'v'iew partly in side elevation and partly in section o'f the head of'=Figures 8 and 9 Figure l'li-s a transverse sectional view through thecleaning head of Figures 8, 9 and 10;

Figure -12 is a side elevational view of still another form-o f-cleaning head; Fig. 13 is a'vertical sectional view through the cleaning head of Figure 12;

Figure 14 isa tran-sverse sectional view through the head 'of Figures 12 and .13;

Figure 1'5 is avertical sectional view along'the line of'=Figure 13, looking in the 'direction of the'arrows;

Figure 1-6 is a side elevational view-of a modified embodiment of our invention;

Figure 1 7 isa diagrammatictop-plan view indicating one path of travel that may be followed by the cleaning head for cleaning the crib or inter-tie spaces and also the ballast adjoining the ends of the ties;

Figure l8 is a view similar to Figure I? illus- 40 trating a modified-cleaning method;

Figure 19 isranend elevational view, similar to Figure 3 ofa modified embodiment o'f'the invention;

Figure 20 is a side elevational view "of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 19; and

Figure 2 lis a-detail view, partly in section,-of a -modified embodiment-of the invention.

In order to' provide an efi'ective ballastcleaner, it is essential :that the entire structure be selfcontained vand self-propelled, so that it :may be operated over ther ight of way at distances remote :f-rom :a :source -of power. This is true even incleaning electrified systems, since with present installations the:ourrent is supplied for operating purposes under such a voltage that it cannot be effectively utilized for auxiliary equipment such as required, for example, for roadbed appliances. It is further necessary that the equipment be as compact as possible so as not to unduly interfere with trafiic on adjacent tracks. To this end the equipment, as illustrated generally in Figures -1 and 2 may be of the type adapted to travel along a given trackway and clean the ballast from the cribs of that trackway, or may be con .structed as illustrated diagrammatically in Figwith the vision of engineers and other railroad operatives In the form of our invention illustrated in Figures l and 2, there is provided a truck 2 of suitable construction adapted to carry the cleaning equipment per se, and a trailer 3 of any desired construction adapted to receive and transport the fines removed as the result of a cleaning operation. Both the truck 2 and the truck 3 in this connection may be provided with suitable track wheels 4 for cooperation with the usual rails 5 carried by ties 6.

The truck 2 is shown as provided adjacent one end thereof with suitable brackets 1 to which is secured a cross beam 8 providing tracks or guide flanges 9 for a cleaning unit 10.

The cleaning unit IE1 is herein illustrated as comprising a carriage adapted to be propelled the carriage I0 is a shaft housing l6 of hollow construction having suitably supported therein and extending lengthwise thereof a hollow shaft l'I.- The shaft IT adjacent its upper end has secured thereto a worm wheel I8 with which meshes a worm I9 adapted to be driven through a flexible connection 20, such as a belt, from a head rotating motor 2 I. This motor and its associated parts are conveniently supported on a motor bracket 22 projecting outwardly from the housing I6.

Extending vertically of the housing along one 'side thereof is a rack 23 with which is adapted to mesh a pinion 24 geared to ,a pinion on the armature shaft 25 of a head raising and lowering motor 26'by means of which the shaft housing I6 and its associated parts maybe bodily raised or'lowered.

Secured to the lower end of thershaft i6 is a cleaning head 21 which may be of any of the types hereinafter described in detail, and of, such diameter as tofit in the crib space of, ties having any usual spacing, and travel there-between for effecting the desired, ballast cleaning operation;

The upper end of the hollow shaft I1 communicates with a sleeve 28 to which is connected'a suction hose 29 leading. tothe intake of a fan blower 30. This fan blower may be of any. de-

sired type adapted for producing the necessary suction for elevating the fines, and is provided with an outlet connection 3| leading backwardly over the truck 2 and into the container on the trailer 3 for depositing fines in the enclosed space provided by the trailer. The fan blower 30 is adapted to be operated by a blower motor 32 carried by the truck 2.

Also mounted on the truck 2 at any convenient point, is a gasoline motor 33 operatively connected to a generator 34 providing the necessary current for operating the blower motor 32, the head rotating motor 2|, the traversing motor II or the head adjusting motor 26. Where it is desired to propel the structure by power means, the truck 2 may also carry a propelling motor 35 having an operative driving connection 36 to one or more of the track wheels, the propelling motor also being supplied by the generator 34.

In Figures 5, 6 and '7, we have illustrated one form of cleaning head which has been found particularly desirable for inter-tie ballast cleaning in accordance with the present invention. This head comprises a hollow casing 31 in the form of a suitable casting preferably of extremely hard alloy steel having diametrically opposite windows 38 therein. Extending vertically of each of the windows 38 is a series of shafts 39 each carrying a series of rotors 40. The solid portions of the cleaning head intermediate the windows 38 are preferably provided with a series of digging and elevating vanes 4|, the ends of which may be shaped to provide digging teeth 42.

With a cleaning head of the,character described, it may be assumed that the shaft I! is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 43 in Figure 7. During this rotation, the ballast will engage the rotors 40 and cause them to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrows 44, thereby constantly tending to automatically clean the spaces between the rotors in such manner as to preclude the possibility of clogging these spaces by the ballast being cleaned.

Assuming the cleaning head to have been lowcred during rotation thereof, to approximately the position illustrated in Figure 2, the teeth 42 and vanes 4| will tend to elevate ballast and fines and maintain the same in a state of quasi-suspension as the head rotates. While in this condition, in which the fines are effectively loosened, the suction created by the blower 36 will cause air to pass through the spaces 45 between the rotors 4i) with sufiicient velocity to pick up the fines and elevate them through the connection 29 and the blower to the trailer 3, wherein the fines are collected. By reference, for example, to Figure 2, it will be apparent that the vanes 4i serve to maintain the head in such predetermined spaced relation to the tie itself that the tamped zones Z beneath the ties are not disturbed in any respect. In Figure 3 the cleaning head 21 is illustrate at the commencement of the cleaning operation, the head having been lowered during rotation thereof along the dotted line of Figure 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow-head 45. Thereafter it is caused, during continuedrotation to move along the portion of the dotted line 4! into a position adjacent the rail. It is then raised by the motor 26 along the path of the line 48, traversed across the head of a rail by the traversing motor H and then lowered in the direction indicated by the line 49. Having reached the desired lower position it then travels in the direction indicated by the line to a position adjacent the thereof.

other rail; whereupon the: preceding operation may be:repeate d While all. ofthezmotions described may be controlled by hand, we preferably provide acontrol box 5-I having; aseries: of adjustable cams not shown therein. adapted to; be driven by a timing or controlmotor'52v for timing each of the operations, described and. causing the cleaning; head to travel through a. predetermined-path for successive cleaning operations; Control cams of the character referred. to: are well; understood in the art. In Figure 1'7, we have. illustrated indotted lines one possiblepath of-travelwhich may be fol-- lowed by the cleaning, head for-not only cleaning the inter-tie spaces; 53, butpalso the spaces 54 adjacent theends of the tiesto thereby permit more effective draining.

In Figure 18, there. isillustrated; another method of cleaning inaccordance-with the present invention, which comprises.- moving the cleaninghead in one direction through a: crib 5.5 in the. opposite direction through; an adjacent crib 55 and- 50:011- until the desired track area has been. cleaned, after which. the unit may be propelled by the motor 35; with the. cleaning head; so positioned as to travel along the ends of the ties in the direction of. the. dotted line 51 and then returned: as indicated; by the line; 58;. The exactmethod of cleaning may be chosenin accordance with the conditions encountered.

In Figures 9 to 11, bothinclusive, we have illustrated; a. modified form of; cleaning head comprising a. series ofrotors, 60.- providing. therebetween air spaces 61- leading. to a dirt elevating space 62 communicating through the hollovr head' 63 with the shaft I1, and also having a chamber 64 provided. at its upper end with a screened inlet 65. During rotation: of this head in the direction illustrated by. thearrow 66, the suction of the fan blower'will drawsair downwardly through the chamber 64hr the direction illustrated by the arrows 61. and: deliver it into the space 62 where it tends to. mix with the air and dirt drawn between the rotors. 69 and assist in the elevation The; head may be provided at its lower end with digging teeth 68. similar to the teeth 42. before described.

In Figures 12. to. 15-, there is illustrated still another; form: of. head comprising an air inlet chamber 10 similar to the chamber 64" of the figures just described, and an elevating chamber Hi having dirt and air admission openings I2. This .head: differs principally. from the heads heretofore described, in that it'is not provided with self-cleaning rotors for cleaning the openings I2. In actual practice we have found that with most materials, if suchself-cleaning rotors are not provided, the openings will become clogged and further usefulness of the devices destroyed. I With the rotors, however, the admission openings may be kept free from clogging.

Amodified form of: the invention illustrated in Figure 16. comprises a main frame 15, which is preferably assembled of channel sections and is rectangular in outline; This-form of the invention is adapted to travel along a railway track at one side thereof, and support a cleaning and digging head above the track for movement thereacross. The machine as a whole ismovable along the track. To this end, the mainframe I5 is provided with a bearing I6 for a vertical column 11 rotatably seated therein and having a table 18 carried thereby; A- boom I9 has a sleeve bearing 80 whereby it is vertically adjustable on the column 'I-l. Vertical adjustment attached thereto. A suction. hose. 88. has a swivel connection 89 to the. shaft 86. A motor. an on the carriage. drives the shaft. through. gearing 9 I. Through gearing 92,,the: motor 99. also drives a pinion 93 adapted; toengage a. rack 94 on the boom for shifting the: carriage 85 back and forth therealong.

Ihe machine is supported principally, when in-use, on a large,.flattread wheel. 95. Thewheel 95 is journaled onv a: suitable shaft projecting from a block 96 adjustably carried in. a yoke 91. The yoke 91 is removably secured to the frame I5 asby bolting; or-otherwise. A screw 98' journaled in the. yoke 91' is: threaded through the block. 96 and carries a. hand wheel 99 by which the elbow of the: wheel. 95 with; respect to the frame I5 may be adjusted.

The mainframe 'I5:also carries bearing brackets N39 for shafts. IIlI. Flanged wheels I92 on the shafts IEH permit themachineto travel along 30.

a railway track after the fiat-tread wheel 95 and its supporting yoke have been removed from the frame. The shafts II are also provided with sprockets I03 at one end, around which an endless belt IM is trained; The belt IE4 is adapted to bear on the ends of'the ties of a railway track indicated. at I05 and to cooperate with the wheel 95 insupporting themachine. One of the shafts lei carries a sprocket. I06 adapted to be driven by a motor through a. chain connection similar to that described; previously and illustrated in Figure 1. The bearing brackets I00 on the sides of the frame to which the belt I04 is applied are provided with pivoted links I01 having jaws I08 adapted to embrace the head of the track rail adjacent, the: machine for guiding the latter relative to the track.

. It is contemplated, of course, that a motor driven blower will; be mounted on the frame "I5, the blower having connection with the hose 83 to suck the fines; from. between the ballast stones while thelatter: are: agitated by the digging head 81. The operation of the modification of Figure 16 is similar: to. that of the previously described form of. the invention. As before stated, the machine is. adapted to travel along the rails to the point wherethe ballast cleaning is to be done. The frame isthen removed from the track, the'wheel 95'. attached and adjusted so that, with the belt I94, it supports the machinein the proper position with the jaws I 08 embracing the head of. the-adjacent rail. The boom I9 is then swung out over the track. The boom is shipped longitudinally of the machine while traveling from place to place. The boom may be swung manually or a motor drive-therefor may be provided. When the boom has been swung out over the track and the carriage 85 traversed to one end of its path of movement on the boom, the latter is lowered by means of the screw shaft BI. The motor 99 is started and as the boom is lowered, the digging head penetrates the ballast layer to stir up the stones individually and agitate them so that the suction created by the motor driven blowerremoves the fines from-the road bed. The

motor 90, in addition torotating the shaft 86 and the digging head 81, causes traversing movement of the carriage across the boom. The boom must be raised, obviously, when the head approaches either of the rails and is lowered after crossing the rails. On the approach of a train on the track, the ballast of which is being cleaned, the boom is raised and swung aside and the guide links III! are thrown back. Ample clearance is thus provided for the passage of the train after which the boom may readily be restored to operating position. The belt I04 serves to drive the machine when the latter is in cleaning position, the guides IOI sliding along the rail when the machine is in motion. The control for the various motors necessary for driving different parts of the apparatus may be a coordinated control system with the usual safety devices and limit switches to prevent overtravel of any movable part and to insure the proper sequence of operations.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description and explanation that the invention provides a practical device for cleaning ballast between railway ties without necessitating the removal of the ballast from the road bed. The ballast is thoroughly stirred up and agitated by the digging head so that all the fines can be cleaned there from and a simple tamping operation restores the ballast to its original condition but with all the fines removed so that proper drainage is insured. In Figures 19 and 20, there is illustrated a modified embodiment of the invention; the modification consisting principally in the fact that the traversing carriage III! which corresponds to the general carriage structure illustrated in Figure 2, carries spaced bearings II I for two shaft housings H2. Each of these shaft housings may be of the general construction illustrated in Figure 2, and provided with a suitable cleaning head H3 at the lower end thereof. Mounted on the carriage is a carriage propelling motor H5 adapted to move the carriage and the cleaning heads bodily along a suitable cross beam H6 provided with a rack II'I.

It will be apparent that operation of the carriage motor H5 will cause simultaneous movement of the two cleaning units through equal distances. The spacing of the heads is such that with one head exactly midway between the rails I I8 and I I 9 as illustrated in Figure 19, the other head will be spaced from its adjacent rail H9 by an amount exactly equal to the spacing between the first mentioned head and either of the rails. Therefore, by the time the head intermediate the rails has cleaned the ballast up to the rail I I8 in the space S between the rails, the other head will have completed its cleaning operation of the ballast through a space S up to the rail I I9. Thereupon both heads will be simultaneously raised, moved across their respective rails, and again lowered. Continued traversing movement of the carriage I I will cause the head which was previously outside of the rail I I9 to clean the space s, while the head which was previously intermediate the rails is cleaning the space 8. It will thus be apparent that the time required for cleaning a given crib is reduced by at least half without any additional labor on the part of the operator.

Each of the cleaning units is provided with a head rotating motor I20 and with a head raising and lowering motor I2 I. Leading from the cleaning heads are conduit sections I22 communicating with an expansion and settling chamber I23 from which a connection I24 leads to the intake of a suction blower I25. The outlet of the suction blower communicates with a conduit I26 adapted to discharge at any desired point, either adjacent the track or into a receptacle or car as before described. The expansion and settling chamber I23 likewise has a connection I21 with the conduit I26, which connection is provided with a rotating valve I28 having fiukes or vanes I29 so disposed that with the valve in any position the interior of the expansion and settling chamber I23 is out of free communication with the conduit I26. In operation, the heavier particles entering the expansion and settling chamber will be subjected to such a change in velocity that they will be deposited therein and will not pass through the blower itself. Rotation of the valve I28 will discharge these heavier particles into the conduit with the fines, so that all materials removed from between ties will ultimately be delivered to a common point.

In Figure 21 there is illustrated means for accommodating the travel of the cleaning and digging head to ties which maynot extend in exactly right angular relationship to the rails. This condition may be due to faulty installation of the ties, or to creeping of the rails, all as well understood in the art. In such cases, if the ties extend at a sufiicient angle, provision should be made for a corresponding adjustment of the cross 30 beam which carries the cleaning unit. As will be apparent from Figure 21, the main frame I30 is provided with a suitable pivotal mounting I3I at one end thereof for the cross beam I32 along which the cleaning unit I33 is adapted to travel. The opposite side of the frame has a link connection I34 with the cross beam, from which extends a rack I35 cooperating with a pinion I36 on the shaft of a hand wheel I31. By reason of this construction, the direction of extension of the 40 cross beam may be changed at will, as indicated in full lines and dotted lines in this figure. In case locking means is not provided for the hand wheel, the device will be self-adjusting in such manner that the cleaning unit will find its own path of travel in accordance with the rail ties without attention on the part of the operator. The various other constructional features of the apparatus may be in general accordance with the structures heretofore described. V

The design and construction of theballastcleaning machines herein disclosed are simple, yet the construction is of ample strength and sturdiness to withstand considerable rough handling. By the use of the invention, the cleaning of the ballast between ties can be carried out much more rapidly and at a much lower unit cost than by any method or apparatus with which we are familiar.

Although we have illustrated and described only one preferred form of our method and apparatus, it will be apparent that numerous changes in both the method and apparatus may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 5

We claim:

1. A railway ballast cleaning machine comprising a wheeled frame adapted to travel on the rails,

a carriage movable transversely of the frame, a rotatable digging head mounted in said carriage 7 for vertical movement, means for driving the head, and means for applying suction thereto.

2. A cleaning machine for railway ballast comprising a wheeled frame, a carriage movable thereacross, a shaft housing slidable vertically in said carriage, and a shaft rotatable in said housing having a digging head thereon, means for driving said shaft, and means for effecting a suction through said head for the removal of fines from the ballast.

3. A railway ballast cleaning machine comprising a wheeled frame, a track thereon for a car riage movable transversely of the frame, a digging head rotatably mounted in said carriage, means for driving the head, means for elevating and lowering the head, and suction means efiective through said head for the removal of fines from the ballast.

4. In a ballast cleaning machine for railway tracks, the combination with a rotatable digging head, of means for supporting the head above the road bed, means for driving the head, and means for applying suction to the ballast therethrough, the head. having material receiving openings therein at different heights.

5. A railway ballast cleaning machine comprising a wheeled frame adapted to travel on the rails, an auxiliary wheel attachable to said frame for supporting it adjacent the tracks, and means on the frame for moving it along the track while supported by the auxiliary wheel.

6. A digging head for a railway ballast cleaning machine comprising a substantially cylindrical member, windows therein, rollers mounted in said windows, and digging. blades between said windows.

'7. A digging head for railway ballast cleaning machines, comprising a hollow member having windows therein, rollers mounted in said windows, and projections for engaging the ballast and spacing the head from a tie.

8. A rotary digging head for suction ballast cleaning, comprising a hollow member, windows therein, a suction outlet in said member, and self-cleaning means mounted in said windows.

9. In a railway ballast cleaning machine, a portable carrier, a carriage movable transversely thereof, and a plurality of cleaning heads mounted. in said carriage and simultaneously movable therewith.

10. A rotary digging head, comprising a hollow member having a window therein, selfcleaning means in said window, said head having a suction outlet, and means independent of the window for providing an auxiliary air supply to said head.

11. A rotary digging head for suction lifting purposes, comprising a hollow member having a window opening therethrough, self-cleaning means in said window, and means for subjecting the window to a suction flow therethrough.

12. A railway ballast cleaning machine, comprising means movable parallel to a track to be cleaned, inter-tie cleaning means carried thereby, and means for changing the path of travel of said inter-tie cleaning means in accordance with the direction of extension of the ties.

l3. Mechanism for removing fine material from coarse material, comprising a head adapted to be moved in contact with the material, said head having. an opening therein, draft means for causing movement of said fine material through said opening, and means movably mounted adjacent said opening and adapted to be moved upon movement of the head to prevent clogging of said opening.

14. Mechanism for removing fine material from coarse material, comprising a head adapted to be moved in contact with the material, said head having an opening therein, draft means for causing movement of said fine material through said opening, and means rotatably mounted adjacent said opening preventing clogging thereof .and determining the maximum size of the fine material passing therethrough.

l5. Mechanism for removing fine material from coarse material, comprising a head having an opening therein through which said fine material is adapted to pass, and a rotor in said opening preventing clogging thereof.

JAMES B. McWILLIAMS. LAWRENCE A. MERK. 

